Couple full of sunshine

Tuesday

Aug 20, 2013 at 3:00 PM

When Ed and Clara Lee Stafford took the stage to receive the August Sunshine Award during Tuesday's Wake-Up Breakfast, they really had nothing to say. But they didn't need to. The look of surprise spoke loudly and the smiles on their faces represented the honor.

Candi Hillchill@ljtdmail.com

They were left speechless.

When Ed and Clara Lee Stafford took the stage to receive the August Sunshine Award during Tuesday's Wake-Up Breakfast, they really had nothing to say.

But they didn't need to. The look of surprise spoke loudly and the smiles on their faces represented the honor.

Judy Hensley presented the award, playing the usual game of leaving it a mystery of him or her or they … until right before the end.

"It's my privilege to introduce this month's winner of the Sunshine Award. And what a perfect selection! 'Community Volunteer' should be our winners' middle name. Our town – this whole area – is a better place to live and way more interesting and more fun because of the efforts and enrichment provided by the August Sunshine winner.

" Our winner:" • taught locally for over 60 years;" • volunteered for Trails and Rails, acting out the Santa Fe traders' stories from here to Albuquerque on Amtrak;" • volunteers at Bent's Old Fort special events, coming in costume to bring the 19th century to life and to drive the shuttle to and from the parking lot;" • Our winner has given presentations for the Santa Fe Trail Association;" • As chairman of the Otero County Historical Preservation Board, our winner has nominated several sites for historic designation, including the Presbyterian church in Rocky Ford, Higbee Cemetery, the arch at Bent's Fort, and is working on the smokestack at the sugar factory in Swink. Every time a site is nominated for historical recognition, our winner prepares an extensive history;" • Our Sunshine Award winner is very talented musically. This person has sung and/or played for a jillion concerts, from the college band concerts in the old days to the Community Band just last month, to the Big Band, to her own band. You can find our winner playing for receptions, celebrations, and special events such as International Night, graduations, Otero Museum wine tastings, and the Dickens of a Christmas. If a school group needs an accompanist, you can find our winner at the keyboard;" • Our winner is Mr (or Ms) Theatre in this area. Whether it's on stage as an actor or backstage working tech, building sets, directing, or even as a playwright, drama has happened here at Picketwire, at the college, and even in Pueblo because of our winner. The number of plays is incredible! Our winner has been involved in over 80 productions at the college and at Picketwire, as well as serving on The Picketwire Board of Directors;" • Did you know that he appeared on stage in Pueblo as Felix in “The Odd Couple” and she was Dolly in “Hello, Dolly!” both in Pueblo and at Picketwire?" • Every Memorial Day, they (yes, it's they) decorate the graves of 32 Confederate Civil War soldiers that they have found buried all over southeastern Colorado;" • Their interest in the Civil War goes back several generations in their own families, when their ancestors, Confederate soldiers, were both locked in the same Northern prison camp at the same time. That's rather romantic, but not for the great-grandfathers!" • More romantic is the beginning of our winners' own relationship. He was directing the play “Blood Wedding” at the college and cast her in the romantic lead. Right before opening night, the male lead came down with hepatitis. Ed had to step into that role. And what a couple got started on that stage!

"Isn't La Junta lucky to have them here in our midst to stir up interest in history, to create drama and music, to enrich all our lives! We are so fortunate that La Junta's native daughter, Clara Lee, stayed in her home town, and that Ed, our southern gentleman, chose to settle here. I am honored to introduce our August Sunshine Award Winners: Ed and Clara Lee Stafford."